Cycloadditions are among the most efficient chemical processes, combining atom economy, stereospecificity, and the ability to generate molecular complexity in a single step. Aromatic rings would in principle be ideal reaction partners, as they contain, at least from the topological point of view, both olefinic and diene subunits; however, the stability of the conjugated aromatic system would be broken by cycloaddition reactions, which are therefore rarely applied, because kinetics and thermodynamics hinder the process. From that aspect, photochemical activation opens interesting perspectives, as one can selectively provide excess energy to one of the reactants but not to the product, thus preventing thermal back reaction. Indeed, aromatic rings show a rich photochemistry, ranging from isomerizations, substitutions, and additions to cycloadditions. In this review, we will focus on cycloadditions, covering literature from early observations up to the present.

Herein, we report a convenient and broadly applicable strategy for the difluoromethylation of aryl bromides by metallaphotoredox catalysis. Bromodifluoromethane, a simple and commercially available alkyl halide, is harnessed as an effective source of difluoromethyl radical by silyl-radical-mediated halogen abstraction. The merger of this fluoroalkyl electrophile activation pathway with a dual nickel/photoredox catalytic platform enables the difluoromethylation of a diverse array of aryl and heteroaryl bromides under mild conditions. The utility of this procedure is showcased in the late-stage functionalization of several drug analogues.

The photolysis of N‐aryltriazoles and N‐arylbenzotriazoles leads to indoles and carbazoles, respectively. Because libraries of triazoles can be accessed rapidly, for example by the copper‐catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reaction between alkynes and azides, this reaction allows the preparation of indoles in a single operation, by the simultaneous photolysis of the precursor library. As an example of such a synthesis of carbazoles, we prepared for the first time clausenawalline D, an antimalarial alkaloid that was recently isolated.

The photochemical extrusion of gaseous nitrogen from 2,5‐disubstituted tetrazoles to generate reactive nitrilimines in situ represents an efficient and attractive way to form dipoles that can be used to provide useful chemicals via 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions. The concept of “photoclick chemistry” already inspired numerous researchers, who exploited photochemical processes involving alkenes for the synthesis of adducts or the functionalization of biocompatible materials. The approach requires bioorthogonality, ease of access to the starting materials and operational simplicity. We report herein our investigations toward a photoclick reaction involving 2,5‐disubstituted tetrazoles and alkynes as the dipolarophile for the synthesis of pyrazole derivatives. In addition to the numerous reports recently published on the synthesis of pyrazoles, we wish to add to the list a photochemical procedure that represents a mild and atom‐economical alternative. Moreover, considering that such nitrilimines precursors can be accessed in one step from inexpensive and abundant starting materials and given the commercial availability of a broad spectrum of alkynes, we examined the scope of the photoclick reaction with respect to reactive partners, enabling the synthesis of a library of useful heteroaromatics.

Herein, we report a convenient and broadly applicable strategy for the difluoromethylation of aryl bromides by metallaphotoredox catalysis. Bromodifluoromethane, a simple and commercially available alkyl halide, is harnessed as an effective source of difluoromethyl radical by silyl‐radical‐mediated halogen abstraction. The merger of this fluoroalkyl electrophile activation pathway with a dual nickel/photoredox catalytic platform enables the difluoromethylation of a diverse array of aryl and heteroaryl bromides under mild conditions. The utility of this procedure is showcased in the late‐stage functionalization of several drug analogues.